THE days of a tight lockdown might be behind us—more so with a vaccine on the horizon—people have tried to go to a semblance of life pre-Match 2019.
For former PLDT-Smart First Vice President Perry Bayani and advertising and broadcast producer Richie Aquino, it has been cycling as much as they can while paying close attention to the health protocols.
“Physical exercise is important during this pandemic,” reasoned the 53-year-old Bayani who does independent consultancy for global corporations. “Cycling, while following prescribed safety protocols, provides me with physical and mental benefits. The cardio exercise from cycling helps me fight my diabetes and boosts my immune system. The delight from being in the beautiful outdoors and away from crowds alleviates the day-to-day stress.”
Bayani has been biking regularly over the past few years; sometimes with his batchmates from the Ateneo, or from work.
“The farthest I have done is from Subic to Masinloc, Zambales, which is a 200km ride and Manila to Bataan that is about 135 kilometers,” shared Bayani. “Our favorite routes are Baguio, Tagaytay, Zambales, and Baler to name a few. We always stop to savor the beautiful scenery our country has. The joy of these spectacular views overwhelms the physical pain due to the long hours of cycling.”
This past weekend, both Bayani and Aquino biked from Camp John Hay in Baguio. During their first day, their route took them from Halsema Highway from La Trinidad to Atok, Benguet, then back that was some 45km. We reached the highest peak of the Philippine Highway System at 7,400 feet (2,256 meters above sea level) and is close to Mount Pulag which is one of the highest mountains in the Philippines.”
The next day, the two biked from Camp John Hay to Kennon Road and back (28Kms).
Caution is also undertaken by carefully monitoring heart rate. “Richie and I both use Garmin cycling computers with heart rate monitors,” explained Bayani. “The computer sends audible alarms to use when our heart rate becomes high.”
“For our age, our maximum heart rate should be 177 beats per minute. Once we reach that, we slow down or stop pedaling to rest until our heart rate returns to normal. Kailangan maingat to minimize risk. We wear masks because of Covid even while riding and that makes it more difficult because we inhale less oxygen. But comply because of the protocols.”